(19)

(11)

EP 1 864 104 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 12.04.2007 (43) Date of publication: 12.12.2007 Bulletin 2007/50 (21) Application number: 06734725.2 (22) Date of filing: 10.02.2006

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G01N 1/00(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2006/004702 (87) International publication number: WO 2006/086615 (17.08.2006 Gazette 2006/33)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (30) Priority: 11.02.2005 US 56716 (71) Applicant: HORIBA, LTD. Kyoto (JP)	(72) Inventors: WEI, Qiang Novi, Michigan 48375 (US) ASANO, Ichiro Konan-shi, Shiga 520-3242 (JP) (74) Representative: Hoffmann, Jörg Peter  Müller Hoffmann & Partner Patentanwälte Innere Wiener Strasse 17 81667 München 81667 München (DE)